Welcome to Issue #21 of The Naked Roommate Newsletter: Naked Students Abroad. I’m writing this intro sitting on The Great Wall of China working on my laptop. The air is crisp. There’s a breeze coming from the Far East. I’m wearing flip flops with a 350 pound pack strapped on my back. It’s heavy, but not as heavy as this big lie. The truth is that I’m sitting on my couch watching "American Idol" typing this intro. I’ve never studied abroad so the only thing I can do is pretend. but you're fortunate enough to have the opportunity of a lifetime. Take advantage of it before you end up like me - a man with backpack envy whose closest experience to going abroad has been trying to bridge the language gap with my Calculus instructor. As always, I invite you to forward The Naked Newsletter and join The Naked Roommate Facebook Group. Enjoy the nakedness abroad!

NEXT WEEK’s TOPIC: RAs (or whatever you call them on your campus). What made your RA so great? What made your RA so terrible? If you are an RA - Why did you become an RA? What's been the best part? What's been the worst part? Share ALL the details! Sending stories means that you grant Harlan permission to use your stories in The Naked Roommate Newsletter, online, in books, and anywhere else Harlan's writing appears.

THE STORY:
I’m going to London this summer for seven weeks to work in Parliament. I’m not sure who I’ll be working for. I’ll either be an intern for a lord or a magistrate. It’s all through the institute that’s sending me. The cost is about the same as summer school, but I have to pay for my flight. I’m most anxious to live in London. I think it’s one of the most exciting cities. I’m most worried about living alone in a new city and figuring everything out on my own – meals, transportation, bills.

NAKED STUDENTS ABROAD

I have backpack envy. I try not to stare, but I can’t help it. I never had a big backpack. I’ve wanted one, but I’ve never had a need for one. I’ve never been a foreign student in a foreign land looking for something foreign to experience. I’ve been to Europe, but it was for a couple of weeks with my parents. I went again on my honeymoon, but we didn’t stay in a dorm room (a smart choice). I’ve never been overseas long enough that I’ve needed a big backpack. I’ve also never been overseas long enough to get mail (that’s how you know you’re really abroad). I’ve never been so fortunate. My college career unfolded on a campus where English was the first language (with the exception of calculus class).

Unlike my well-traveled friends, I’ve never had the option of taking a weekend trip to Amsterdam to meet up with buddies. I’ve never met my girlfriend in Paris. I didn’t get the chance to surf off the coast of New Zealand or go scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef. I’ve never taken the Chunnel. I’ve never had goulash in Hungary. I’ve never called Cambridge mi casa (that's Spanish). I’ve never dug in Egypt. I’ve never had Chianti on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast in Italy. I never made friends with Johan in Johannesburg. Israel has never just been a few hours away by plane from me. I’ve never seen a wild elephant while commuting to class in Namibia. I’ve never had sushi in Singapore. I’ve never toured the Taj Mahal or a Dell computer call center in India. I’ve never gotten sick from the water in my dorm room. I hope you can. While diarrhea will pass (in most cases), the memories of studying abroad would linger forever (with the exception of certain trips to Amsterdam). I only wish that someone had forced me to go abroad when I was in college. Then, instead of spending my summer filling cups with coffee while waiting tables at Baker’s Square Restaurant, I could have filled my summer with knowledge, travel, and life-changing experiences. There’s really no good reason not to go abroad. If I were you, I'd look into it.

Afraid of being far from home? With cell phones, email, and instant messages you can be as close to home as you want (both good and bad). If your parents have a problem with you leaving home, remind them that you’re only going to be an eight hour plane ride --- it’s like driving from Chicago to Pittsburgh.

Think it’s too expensive? Many programs are structured in a way that your core expenses are the same as if you were enrolled in college. Talk to the people in the study abroad office and see if you can find a scholarship. Pick a country where the dollar goes a little further. Also, consider taking a student loan.

Not enough time? We are living roughly five years longer than our parents. Therefore, you have more time to experience life and discover your passion. And if you don’t want to go an entire semester, you can pick a summer program.

Immersing yourself in another culture as a student studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Talk to a counselor in your field of study and visit your study abroad office. Should you decide to not go abroad, at least you will have explored all of your options. And you can avoid ending up with backpack envy.

Dear Harlan,

My mom visited Europe last year. When she came back she told me about this wonderful guy she had met. She said they really liked each other, but they didn't do anything because my mom has a boyfriend, whom she has been with for 10 years. My mom is now engaged to her boyfriend, and they plan on getting married. I just found out that my mom DID cheat while in Europe. In fact, she still e-mails her guy in Europe, who thinks that she is now single. I have told my mom how I feel about her lying, but she doesn't seem to care. Should I tell my mom's fiance about it before they get married? Or should I write the guy in Europe and tell him the truth? Or should I just keep out of it? Her fiance is like a father to me, and I don't want to see him get hurt.